Student tapes teacher proselytizing in class

[NJmaverick]

Student tapes teacher proselytizing in class

Accept Jesus or 'you belong in hell,' he said


A Kearny High School student has accused a history teacher of crossing the line between teaching and preaching -- and he says he's got the tapes to prove it.

Junior Matthew LaClair, 16, said history teacher David Paszkiewicz, who is also a Baptist preacher in town, spent the first week of class lecturing students more about heaven and hell than the colonies and the Constitution.

LaClair said Paszkiewicz told students that if they didn't accept Jesus, "you belong in hell." He also dismissed as unscientific the theories of evolution and the "Big Bang."

<SNIP>

At first, Paszkiewicz denied he mixed in religion with his history lesson, and the adults in the room appeared to be buying it, LaClair said. But then he reached into his backpack and produced the CDs.

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1163571262150640.xml?starledger?nnj&coll=1



Personally I think the lying shows the hypocrisy that is so rampant amoung the militant religious types.

[w4rma]

1. So the teacher lied about it, too. If he gets fired, I think it will be for lying to his bosses.(nt)

[zreosumgame]

57. no worries he will weep and moan and gnash his teeth

claim the LAWD fegaves him and then he will go on preaching about those eeeeeeeee-vil libruls spreading thier lies in schools...

[tabasco]

91. LMAO.

You are so right.

[JNelson6563]

99. Don't forget sackcloth and ashes!

Important accessories for all aspiring martyrs! :toast:

[usregimechange]

84. I guess the truth isn't a family value.

[Cha]

93. Naw, "the truth" is hardly ever used

much less valued in those zealot types.

[Scairp]

108. Email addys

In case anyone here is interested.

Robert Mooney-Superintendent of Kearny, NJ School District, (mention in the article): [email protected]

Principles of the school district (whatever that is) Mary Costello: [email protected], James DiGuglielmo: [email protected], Paul Reitemeyer: [email protected], Robert Sprague: [email protected], Nicholas Testa: [email protected], Kathleen Tutak: [email protected].


Robert Mooney
Superintendent
Kearny School District
Ph: 201-955-5021

[yellowcanine]

173. Lying for Jesus is a Christian value, dontcha know?

[kath]

178. It never ceases to amaze me how many of these fundie

assholes have *such* a problem with that little commandment about not bearing false witness. (in Catholicism it's the 8th Commandment, with Protestants, I don't know)

[efhmc]

2. Smart kid. Evidence clear and pure, unlike his teacher's intellect and

honesty.

[BOSSHOG]

3. He should at the very least be fired

Maybe he should be placed in a body of water. If he drowns that means he was innocent all along.

[Ezlivin]

18. And if he's a floater....

Very good suggestion, BossHog.

[Sin]

31. Well if hes a floater then.

he weighs as much as a duck and we should burn him as a witch. :)

[A HERETIC I AM]

100. Well....he DOES have a wart....

::::points eagerly::::::

[eppur_se_muova]

118. Ah, the traditional approach. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.

And the water helps put out the fire.

[Cerridwen]

4. I hope that young man decides to go into journalism...

he's got some serious huevos. If he's willing to confront not only his teacher but the administration, think what he could do when it came to doing the work of the "Fourth Estate."

:evilgrin:

[NJmaverick]

12. I agree America needs him

He did an outstanding job and should be rewarded.

[LifeDuringWartime]

78. very risky

If this hadn't gotten to the press and the school's administration was sympathetic to the teacher, he might have gotten into legal trouble for the recording. Definitely not legal to record a high school teacher without their permission.

[depakid]

83. Sure it's legal!

In a public setting like a high school class you can tape whoever and whatever you want.

The only issue that might come up are copyright matters- and that would only be if you tried to sell the tapes-

[Katzenjammer]

88. Don't bet your life on it. There are a lot of protect-the-powerful laws that forbid

us from recording felons being felonious.

[DRoseDARs]

190. In NV u cant record conversations w/o consent of all parties; u can bet the teacher wouldnt consent.

You could secretly, but it wouldn't be admissible in court as evidence.

[LanternWaste]

217. College students can't use a mini-recorder to take class notes?

So college students in NV can't use a mini-recorder to take notes during class?

[DRoseDARs]

231. Read my post again, your answer was there 24 hours before you asked. n/t

:)

[LanternWaste]

233. The post I replied to read...

The post I replied to read, "In NV u cant record conversations w/o consent of all parties; u can bet the teacher wouldnt consent."

Seems like I asked a valid question.

I'm not sure what the 24-hour remark was about...

[DRoseDARs]

236. The 24-hr remark should have been 13-hrs; I answered your question 13-hrs before you asked it.

Read the timestamps in the upper-right corner of any post, in this case yours and mine. I posted at 11:53pm on Wednesday, then edited my post a minute later. You responded 13 hours later, looong after I posted and edited that post.

sigh

I said you could, in secret, record the lecture but you can forget using it in court. Such a recording would be non-admissible as evidence in Nevada courts if the recording was made without the consent of all involved parties. Other than the exact wording, there is nothing different in this post from the one you questioned.

[wickerwoman]

235. They should ask the teacher's permission.

When I taught in universities, students were required to get oral consent from the teachers before recording classes. I'm sure some students didn't, but it wasn't that big of a deal anyway. It is kind of common courtesy though. The administration can't secretly record what goes on in classrooms and has to ask permission before sending in an observer.

[moggie]

89. You realise the kid's father is an attorney?

And that father, Paul L. LaClair, is publicising the situation? It wouldn't surprise me if the kid discussed the situation with his father before making the recording.

Incidentally, this is not Matthew LaClair's first piece of activism. He's also refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

[asthmaticeog]

94. Nonsense - students record lectures all the time.

It's a great way to supplement your written notes, and it's been going on since portable cassette recorders were introduced.

[geniph]

115. Huh? Did you never record a lecture?

I had plenty of classes that I recorded, in high school and in college, to listen to the lecture later to clarify points that were unclear to me. There were some classes where I think some of the students just brought in their recorders, took off for an hour, then came back and collected the tape recorders. There is absolutely NO law I am aware of that makes anything a public school teacher says in class any form of protected speech as regards copyright or privacy. A public school room is a public venue; any parent who wishes to can audit classes with prior permission. Anything said in a public school room during class is by default PUBLIC speech, not covered by privacy laws.

[CAcyclist]

205. Show me the law that says that.

You've never taped lectures before ? It's nothing more than a different form of note-taking.

[pitohui]

213. actually it's perfectly legal

under usa law if someone tells you something, then you are perfectly free to make notes as a memory aid, decades ago abscam and even some earlier cases established conclusively that such memory aids include the right to make tape recordings, this right is the basis of all undercover work

it cannot be illegal to record something said directly to you, now there are many circumstances where it is illegal and immoral for a third party to spy on a conversation and make a recording

but it is never wrong to keep an accurate record of what was said to you

the teacher addressed the entire class, and everyone in that class, who is an official member of that class, has a right to keep notes of his remarks as he or she sees fit

don't be fooled by bogus nonsense

powerful people would like you to believe that you have no rights at all against being lied to, but you always have a right to make a record of what is being said, to your face, to YOU

if the teacher didn't want the kid to hear, remember, and repeat the remarks, the teacher should not have made the remarks within hearing of the kid

the teacher is the liar here, there is no way you can put the student in the wrong on this one

the teacher should be fired for violating the student's right to be free of religious B.S. in the schools

[depakid]

81. I completely agree

Now, if he could only get editors and publishers with the guts to seek and print the truth....

[bloom]

5. "you belong in hell"

Good for the kid that taped it. It is the kind of thing that is so outrageous - some people wouldn't believe it.

[Demit]

6. A history teacher who tells his class that dinosaurs were on Noah's ark?

I wonder where in New Jersey this town is. For some reason, I don't think of fiery Baptist preachers and New Jersey together.

[Bassic]

8. Makes for a very poor history class, if he touches those periods. nt

[Quantess]

90. My thoughts exactly.

What a huge waste of class time.

[Crayson]

65. Obviously they weren't...

that's why they are extinct now... they all drowned.

Or maybe Noah picked two male dinosaurs... too bad
^_^

I've seen some cute cartoons about dinosaurs and dodo birds on the ark... if only I could remember where!!

[stlsaxman]

226. Unicorns, maybe? My favorite Charles Addams of all time-

http://www.charlesaddams.com/gallery05.html

[VWolf]

105. Kearny is just west of NYC, maybe 5 miles

I agree - it's kind of a weird place to find such a zealot.

BTW, Kearny has produced some of the best soccer talent in the nation over the last 20 years. And I think it's got a large Scottish population.

[bettyellen]

171. an odd little pocket out by Newark in fact, fairly urban and mixed

ethnically. it used to be very scottish, but i hear there are a lot of latinos living there these days.
it's on the path commuter line, 20 min from manhattan, a small burg, but not backwatery at all.

[BlueStateBlue]

207. I have very close ties to Kearny, both my parents grew up there.

It used to be very, very Scottish and Irish. Lots of Portuguese people now. The town is still predominately Catholic, definitely NOT a big Baptist influence.

[Tesha]

195. Kearny is one of those many industrial towns along the NJ Turnpike.

Kearny is one of those many industrial towns along the NJ Turnpike.
Lots of chemical plants and blue-collar jobs.

Tesha

[Bassic]

7. Exactly, why did he try to lie about it? nt

[smoogatz]

46. Because it's a clear violation of the law. n/t

[Bassic]

72. Ah, I see.

Well then yes, I would imagine he'd try to cover his sorry ass. Sucks to be him.

[rodeodance]

9. these type are so good at parsing words.

[GCP]

10. And this is in one of the bluest states

Un-frikkin'-believable.
Kearny is where the "Satriale's Pork Store" from the Sopranos is filmed.

[mconvente]

121. eh, NJ isn't as blue as you may think...

We only beat Forrestor in 2000 when Torrecelli removed himself as a Senatorial candidate and Lautenberg saved the say. There are a lot more conservative people in NJ than you would think, especially in the north and western part of the state. Also, near the shore and south jersey is very rethug. For how "blue" we are, Dems only lead US House seats 7-6, and most of those are small urban districts (or course with high population, but still)

[a la izquierda]

183. i don't think the shore is rethug at all.

more liberal to me in most spots, methinks.

[BlueStateBlue]

208. I don't think NJ has much of the bible-thumping repugs anywhere.

It's more of the variety that feels they have to be Republican to have the appearance of wealth.

The appearance of wealth is a very important part of living in Jersey. :puke:

[a la izquierda]

227. oh god, don't i know it! n/t

[Swede]

11. Good for LeClair.

This has no business in a public school.

[jpwhite]

13. typical fundamentalist nonsense

This is so typical of the fundamentalists. God is love but if you don't accept Jesus you will burn in eternal hell. If we as parents did that to our kids, we would be arrested for child abuse. I mean if we were to lock up our kids in a room and leave them there. Forget the burning part. Just imagine what would happen if a parent locked up their kid for one week in a room with no food or water (a simulation of hell) for a week. No parent in their right mind would do that. So why do fundamentalists think God would do that to us? Because they take the bible literally.

The bible was written by people who thought the earth was flat and that the earth was the center of the universe. You have to put things into a cultural context. The bible is a great book, but it must be viewed in light of what we know now about the world. (example: quantum physicists now say that each cell of our body has an individual consciousness)

What we need are classes in high school about the world's religions. We should teach the kids of america the value in each of the world's religions, and we should be tolerant of other religions whether we agree with them or not. Maybe then we can get rid of this arrogant attitude that our religion in America (which is mostly Christian) is better than every one else's. We are not going to have world peace until the world religions can learn to live with one another. I think America should take the lead on this one.

James
[email protected]

[drm604]

17. "quantum physicists now say that each cell of our body has an individual consciousness"

I apologize and it's not my intent to hijack this thread, but I couldn't let that statement pass. That's a pretty extraordinary claim, do you have a cite?

[StraightDope]

67. You beat me to it.

Sounds like new-age nonsense to mine ears... :eyes:

[drm604]

87. Yes.

That's what I was thinking. I was just trying to be a little more polite, but maybe I should have just come right out and called it nonsense.

[Xeric]

68. It's some of Deepak Chopra's bullshit n/t

[Crayson]

77. Not only quantum physics but evolution too...

... there is this theory which claims that the human body and intelligence are in fact absolutely irrelevant EXCEPT for its one and only function: to keep the DNA alive.

Meaning: the single DNA molecule is the actual life form. The rest is just vessel/protection/

Everything else is only a MEANS to make it survive.
Intelligence is only a means to PROTECT it, like a shell or horn and talons.

The only form of "sex" that actually exists, is when the sperm and the egg melt together.
The rest is just a phisical means.

The DNA molecule rides in us as a we would in a car or a protective suit.
And it "sheds" it's hull when the molecule is passed on and we die.

The concept is mindboggling. But it's very real.

Look at the one cell organisms or algae or the higher organisms with cell types.
Only the germinating cells "live", the ones that actually carry on their DNA.
The rest of the human body withers and dies... as a flower would, once it has blossomed... a mere vessel that was used and has no purpose anymore.



if you think it through: The DNA does EVERYTHING to spread itself as far as possible and it suceeds.
- it developed oxigen and sulfur and nitrate "breathing" organisms to survive
- underwater and landbased
- with legs or seeds carried by the wind as far as possible
- the DNA that is best adapted or protected survives.
- some species have such short generation periods that individuals are discarded as soon as they pass their DNA on. think of some flies. The "passing on" is more important that the "living".
- then intelligence came. Obviously a successful concept.
- intelligence may allow the DNA to leave this planet and spread throughout the universe.


We try to develop nano technologie. Nano bots. Self organizing structures, that can build things.

DNA already IS THAT NANO TECHNOLOGY.
And it already spawns a whole planet.


Now the last question, which is most interesting:
Is DNA a good thing?
Or is it a disease to the universe, because you can't deny the viral character of DNA, it's almost impossible to kill it!
Sure you can kill individuals and even whole species, but you can never kill all the DNA on the planet at once and stop its reproductive cycle.

If you view all living things under from this perspective, you're not far apart from animals, trees, bacteria... you're just a different vessel.

"Fascinating"... as a popular Vulcanian would say....
^_^

Cheers,
Crayson

[StraightDope]

101. OK, I get it, but how...

Does any of what you stated relate to each cell being conscious? I don't dispute that DNA has evolved some ingenious methods to ensure its propogation, but there's a wide gulf btween that stement, and the contention that every cell is self-aware. Please elaborate...

[Ian David]

102. Satire belongs in the lounge. n/t

[StraightDope]

114. Was your reply dircted at me?

Or the poster who made these outlandish claims in the first place?

[Ian David]

146. It was directed at the original outlandish claims.

My post must have gotten mis-directed by quantum tunneling in the spirit world and aligned with the wrong chakras.

[StraightDope]

158. You forgot about Feng Shui...

And the Atlantean mind control beams from beyond Pluto. Oh, and the alien conspiracy to sodomize our mutilated cattle.

While I'm at it, tell the director, producer, and everyone else associated with that travesty, "What the * do we know?" to get off their collective asses and read a fucking science book, and stop talking like goddamn retards. Oy...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

103. ...

You don't teach high school, do you?

[chrisau214]

142. The Animal House Theory

Wasn't this concept espoused by stoned Donald Sutherland in Animal House?




Chris

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

157. I think that was Bluto...

and the Germans bombing Pearl Harbor.

[file83]

186. "...but you can never kill all the DNA on the planet at once and stop its reproductive cycle."

You've obviously never heard of something called the "Death Star". :rofl:

[jpwhite]

211. thanks, great point

Thank you for coming to my defense. I forgot to mention in my post that if they wanted to learn more they should watch the movie "What the bleep do we know?". It was very eye-opening to me. There were several quantum physicists and other experts in this movie/documentary that suggest that cells have an individual consciousness. They also suggest that we are all one. Sounds new agey, but it's true.

Of course I am a new age/liberal christian so I am biased. You have to check out the movie for yourself. There is a web page at www.whatthebleep.com if you are interested.

James
[email protected]

[Jokinomx]

117. What The Bleep? Down The Rabbit Hole....

It is a documentary about quantum physics and religion. The profs that were in this excellent video did a fine job explaining just that... "All cells have their own consciousness."

I rented it from our local Blockbuster... well worth the view...

and for the preacher/teacher... fire his ass... there are so many highly qualified teachers out there needing a job... just get rid of him and get somebody that doesn't look at the world thru stained glass windows.

Peace...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

126. LOL

That movie was such a joke.

[Jokinomx]

128. Everybody has their own opinion...

I respect yours.. I found it quite fasinating...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

130. It's fine if you like it.

Just don't try to pass it off as quantum physics or science in general.

[Zhade]

156. But not their own facts.

Such as the nonsense about "quantum physicists are saying..."

[StraightDope]

160. Some people say that George Bush fucks goats in the ass...

Some people say that by ingesting rat poison, your dick gets bigger. Some people say that Fox News is "fair and balanced". Et Cetera, ad nauseum...

[ret5hd]

172. Rat poison, you say??? Hmmm....

mouse poison, cockroach poison, silverfish poison, ant poison...AHHH! There it is!!! RAT POISON!

I'll get back to ya on that.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

129. delete

responded to the wrong post.

[fujiyama]

188. I believe some of the profs

later said they were taken out of context or misled.

But I'd very surprised if a physics prof ever made such a claim.

[Sin]

197. If you really want to learn.

About Quantum physics but not about them from a Doc by a bunch of moon bats.
try this it may help cut through the bs mythology out there.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html

[Ian David]

104. Welcome to DU. Now, turn off the computer and take a science class

"... but it must be viewed in light of what we know now about the world. (example: quantum physicists now say that each cell of our body has an individual consciousness)"

Uhm...

No...

quantum physicists do NOT now say that.


What you've found is one or more "Kooks" who have managed to convince a handful of others that "quantum physicists now say that."

UGH!

You make me fear for the state of our educational system!

You really need to heed the warning of the Ghost of Carl Sagan:


Ghost Of Carl Sagan Warns Against Dangers Of Superstition
August 12, 1997 | Issue 32•02

ITHACA, NY—Appearing as a hovering, wraith-like vision above the Cornell University Physics Building where he taught for years, the ghost of recently deceased astronomer/author Carl Sagan warned former colleagues Monday against a belief in superstition. "Exercise skepticism!" Sagan said, clanking a large metal chain. "Whenever possible, there must be independent confirmation of all facts pertaining to any so-called 'magical' or 'mystical' event or phenomenon!" Added Sagan: "One should always encourage vigorous debate on the nature of rational inquiry and empirical evidence. A thinking person must always utilize the scientific method, or wear the chains of superstition throughout eternity!" Cornell physics department head Arthur Ludyvik said that he would heed Sagan's warning and buy a special anti-superstition crystal amulet and incense cone.

See:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/32640

[lfairban]

106. I'd like a citation too!

Listening to a fundamentalist relate what he believes a scientist says is no more reliable that what Reagan would say about Marx.

I am sure that quantum physicists say a lot of thing not related to quantum physics, like who might win the next World Series, but that does not make it part of quantum physics.

If I remember my undergraduate physics and chemistry, quantum physics is only relevant to subatomic, atomic and molecular level actions. What possible relation could it have to cellular consciousness? I have never even heard of cellar consciousness!

But where would I be without Google? I found this:

A Key to World Peace in Cellular Consciousness
Cellular consciousness is the complete memory that we each carry in our bodies of our earliest experiences, including conception and the separate experiences of being a sperm and an egg.

<snip>

Egg Leaving Ovary
As people relive the experience of being a ripe egg in the ovary, they routinely report feelings ranging from an acute sense of regret at leaving the "sisterhood" to abject terror at "going into the void" or facing "certain death."

<snip>

Sperm Awaiting Ejaculation
The "hurry, hurry, I have to get there" feelings of the sperm—trapped in the testicles in a state of arousal awaiting release—is commonly the first "cellular" feeling a person accesses when working with cellular consciousness. Sperm memories and experiences are quite a bit easier to reach and express than egg memories/experiences for reasons that will be explained later.

http://www.primalspirit.com/larimore2_1.htm

[TheBaldyMan]

169. Now that is genuine nonsense,

Some quantum physicists may believe that rot but most would dismiss it as highly unscientific and unrelated to quantum mechanics.

QM is much stranger and far more mysterious than that lot of old pseudo-scientific babble.

[TankLV]

177. "hurry, hurry, I have to get there"

and I thought is was just me last Saturday nite with my partner...

go figure...

[davekriss]

225. Egg Leaving Ovary - Sperm Awaiting Ejaculation

Wait a minute, aren't those stage directions from a Woody Allen script?

As an aside, read this interesting article (anyone) about consciousness as ontologically emergent, available here:

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/kauffman06/kauffman06_index.html

[Gelliebeans]

107. I have to disagree with you there

I don't want my kid forced fed any religion in school. If the churches want to take it upon themselves to educate their congregations regarding tolerance of other religions, go for it. In the meantime, our kiddo is there to learn reading, writing and arithmetic and we will teach him at home the moral values that we hold dear. The idea that we could teach high school students a class about world religions would be educational but somehow I see this being a huge cluster-f*ck over which religion is placed dominantly on the scale. Let's just keep it simple and out of the classroom.

[last1standing]

14. I remember a similar situation last year.

There was a teacher (Jay Bennish) caught on tape last year going into a rant on bush* and his administration. At that time I was in the minority in saying that he should be disciplined because he went over the line into advocating instead of teaching. Most people here, however, said he was only telling the truth and we needed more of that.

This is exactly why the first teacher needed to be disciplined. Religion and partisan politics have no place in our school system.

[Demeter]

43. I Don't Equate Political Opinion With Religious Indoctrination

and I remember Vietnam times--you couldn't keep politics out of it, those kids of those years were facing death or worse from the draft lottery.

[Bucky]

125. Goose and gander. Sorry, but teacher's opinions don't belong in a classroom.

A teacher should teach critical thinking, should expose students to competing and contradictory arugments. We should challenge students to think of new things in new ways and analyze the truth and meaning of what we teach them. None of that requires putting my position out there. In fact, if I'm the person explaining how to think critically, my ideas will be given unfair weight with the kids. That's not fair to them.

[DrDan]

15. Sean InSanity has been encouraging students to tape their teachers

I wonder if he had this in mind?

Works both ways, Sean.

[NJmaverick]

51. I think this is great that Sean's plan Backfired

[Kber]

16. The obvious answer - forbid recording devises in class.

[DrDan]

19. well musicians certainly have this policy

and it is supported legally

why not teachers?

[hexola]

230. OT - not really...

http://bt.etree.org/index.php

http://www.archive.org/details/etree

these days live recording is well accepted...artists that dont allow it are becoming the exception...

OK back on topic...!

[dubykc]

22. Sure, let's take away a proven learning tool, just because...

it was used to expose a teacher that has less business in the classrom than a recording device.

I also read the reply to this thread about musicians. The HUGE difference between a classroom and a musician's session is that the information passed on in a lecture in school is meant to be retained and used OUTSIDE the venue in which it is presented, unlike music which is the intellectuial property of the musician.

[DrDan]

29. actually, I am not advocating taking away the ability to record

Just thinking about the alternatives.

Musicians have this policy whether protecting their own "intellectual property" or not. Regardless of whose music is being performed, they do not allow recording.

[dubykc]

33. Sorry, it sounded to me like you were advocating....

and yes I know musicians do that and it's still a huge difference between that and taping a lecture.

[Wickerman]

42. for the record

a great many musicians are on record to allow recording of their live performances. Check out archive.org. Many break out that permission; some allow all type of recordings, some no video, some no soundboard recordings, etc.

:hi:

[Pavulon]

135. Biggest mistake of JRs life...FELONY.

he admitted to a felony in the state of nj and has (or mom and dad have) become liable for his actions. If the teacher is fired because of the tape, he can sue in civil court and get a judgment for the value of his salary and pension..

[Ian David]

147. The New Jersey Supreme Court nullified that law years ago.

It was in a case where a NJ State Trooper was secretly recorded after pulling over a motorist.

[ThomCat]

58. You know that's going to be a new policy soon

in that school district. Never, ever allow those damned kids to have any rights. Don't give them any power to stand up for anything. After all, they're just supposed to shut up, sit down, do what they're told and listen until they graduate!

:eyes:

[Kber]

64. Yur probably right

I was kidding, but you know someone will propose it.

[dubykc]

20. LaClair did an awesome job...maybe...

the MSM could take a lesson or two from this kid!

[Don_1967]

21. If the teacher was asked

there personal opinion ,do they have the right to answer ithe question?

[SoftUnderbelly]

23. to be fair

in an ideal world religion would be confined to history class ;)

[dubykc]

25. It could also fit into a Philosophy class if handled properly.

[Don_1967]

26. Do teachers & students have the right to express there religious believes

if asked.

[mondo joe]

61. What does "if asked" have to do with it? If your argument is that teachers

have the right to express their beliefs to students, then being asked is not material.

[Tempest]

69. It sure doesn't sound like he was asked

Unless he was asked each day for a week straight.

"Junior Matthew LaClair, 16, said history teacher David Paszkiewicz, who is also a Baptist preacher in town, spent the first week of class lecturing students more about heaven and hell than the colonies and the Constitution."


Read the story next time.

[usregimechange]

82. Outside of class...

[0rganism]

95. Not in a "captive audience" venue

They're free to discuss whatever they damn well please, as long as it's not done during the time in which people are required to be present on campus or in a classroom. That's why students' religious organizations meeting for non-disruptive extra-curricular activities on school property after regular school hours is legit but preaching to biology students in class that evolution is bullshit is not. Invocations of the divine at sports events and graduation ceremonies are a bit of a gray area, but recent caselaw indicates that those are pretty much out of bounds, unless they're sufficiently non-sectarian.

[dubykc]

24. IMO, yes...

before or after school, one-on-one with the student who inquired.

[Don_1967]

27. What if the question

is asked as a part of a class discussion.

[dubykc]

35. The question could be answered professionally without...

appearing to push their religion's doctrine.

A simple, "I am XXXXXXXXXXXX" would suffice.

[mondo joe]

48. Then the answer should be "That's not relevant to what we're working on."

[Tempest]

71. Or "We can discuss this after class"

The teacher obviously crossed the line and the tapes proved it.

[Gelliebeans]

109. Exactly n/t

[me b zola]

201. Since you like "what if"/hypothetical questions, I've got one for you

What if your child's teacher was proselytizing in class? Would you be alright with that?

[Lars39]

28. Read the article. The preacher was proselytizing, not answering questions.

[Don_1967]

30. Somehow the subject was raised no one would just

stand up and accept Jesus or go to hell

[Lars39]

32. Well, obviously this guy did.

[Don_1967]

34. Don't get me wrong

I Don't want religion being taught in public school,but I think teachers & students have the right to the freedom of expression,you can,t stop being a person of faith at the school door.

[NJmaverick]

37. This seems to have gone well beyond a simple

expression of faith. Besides if he wasn't doing anything wrong, why did he lie about it?

[Don_1967]

40. I think we need to hear

the tape and see the context then it will be clear.

[mondo joe]

53. There's really no context that makes this okay. The teacher has a job and

a responsibility which he is clearly unable or unwilling to carry out.

And then he LIED about it, which means a. he knows it was wrong and b. he is not trustworthy.

[dubykc]

38. I agree, but, it can be approached far more professionally...

without pushing religious doctrine.

[PassingFair]

39. And you CAN'T tell your students that they're

going to hell if they don't accept Jesus Christ.

You can't.

Not in public school.

On Edit:

Thank Darwin!

[Don_1967]

44. If the child asks the teacher

there personal religious believes the teacher has the right as a citizen to express those believes ,but there is still a right way and a wrong way to go about it. I don't trust people who try to scare people into religion.

[mondo joe]

50. To the contrary - the teacher does not have the right to proselytize, even if

asked the question.

[Tempest]

76. STOP IT ALREADY! THE TEACHER WAS NOT ASKED!

Stop the bullshit.

The teacher was not asked.

The article makes that clear.

[Gelliebeans]

110. Thank You Well Said.

[mondo joe]

112. And it wouldn't matter if the teacher WAS asked. Being asked a

question in no way alters the responsibilities of the teacher.

[Crunchy Frog]

80. And how should the teacher answer

if the child asks him about his sexual practices? Is it okay for him to go into explicit detail? Maybe graphic descriptions of homosexual acts? Or should he just tell the student that it's a private matter and not up for discussion? From what you're saying, it sounds like you would advocate the former. :shrug:

[msongs]

41. 'being" is one thing, using your authority to instill fear is another

a person in power over a group of children ought not to be shoving terrorist threats down the throats of the children using fear, threats, and intimidation.

"you are going to hell when you die if you do not do what I say" is a threat. it is intimidation and bullying. this teacher ought to be arrested.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[mondo joe]

52. Then you must not understand that being a teacher is a job, and the teacher

is obliged to carry out the job.

[Lars39]

59. A teacher is supposed to act professionally.

A professional does not proselytize at work.

[iverglas]

60. utter abject nonsense

and a big old straw person to boot:

I think teachers & students have the right to the freedom of expression,you can,t stop being a person of faith at the school door.

Second point first: no one suggested that anyone stop being anything at any school door. Teachers may BE anything they want; what they SAY in the classroom is a matter over which the public has say.

"Freedom of expression" does NOT mean that teachers may impose speech about something that has nothing to do with the curriculum they are hired to teach on a captive audience of students.

Teachers have the same right as anyone else to possess pornographic images and to use four-letter words in conversation: free speech, y'know. Does this mean that they must be permitted to exhibit pornographic images in the classroom, and use four-letter words in their lectures?

People have the right to be racists and misogynists and bigots. Does this mean that teachers must be permitted to call their students names?

STUDENTS have a right to an education in the public schools, and have the right not to be have their exercise of that right interfered with by anyone -- students, teachers, administrators, guests -- treating them differently on the basis of their personal characteristics.

Students who do not share this teacher's beliefs were being discriminated against by being forced to listen to his insulting and intimidating speech. And even if such a teacher would never have treated dissenting students differently when it came to assigning their marks, a student with any sense would be very much afraid that dissenting would result in a lower chance of success in the class. Both the immediate negative effect and the fear of further negative effects, depending on his/her response to the first problem, would plainly have a stifling effect on the student's ability to do what s/he is in the class to do: learn.

The teacher is free to say what he wants to anyone who wants to hear it. He is not "free" to violate the terms of the contract to which he has voluntarily become a party, which requires that he teach his students the curriculum he was hired to teach, not insult and harass them, without suffering the consequences: disciplinary action of whatever sort is provided for in that contract.

[Crunchy Frog]

74. Teachers threatening students with Hell and damnation

for not believing in a particular doctrine is never, ever, EVER acceptable. This is an apalling abuse of power and authority. If a teacher finds that he is simply unable to restrain himself, then he just does not belong in a public school. He can do that sort of shit as much as he wants in his church, his family, or in a private religious school. Sorry if you have a problem with that. Maybe you'd be happier living in Iran or Afghanistan? :shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

79. And you can't stop being a sexual being at the school door. Your right, if

a student asks in class about the teachers sexual preferences, the teacher should totally be allowed to talk about their date the night before, foreplay, favorite positions, and philosophy of sex. Right? /sarcasm off.

[TankLV]

179. Yes I can if you try to shove YOUR religion down MY throat.

You will get a nice fist sandwich...

[readmoreoften]

189. So should a teacher talk about the woman he was trying to lay at the bar over the weekend too?

It's a job. If you are inappropriate on the job, you get fired. You tell a class of kids they're going to hell in a public school, you get fired. You can't stop being a "person of faith", but it's your job to shut your trap.

[LanternWaste]

218. Best history Prof. I ever had

Best history Prof. I ever had was during my sophomore year in college. He taught History of Western Civilization. First day of class, he stated emphatically that he would not reveal his faith or lack of it to anyone on campus. He continued by saying that portions of the syllabus were more than likely going to piss off anyone who was religious. He then said that portions of the syllabus were going to piss of any atheists in the class.

He was great to watch as he fulfilled his promise and pissed off fundy and atheist alike. He'd verbally slap down anyone who didn't practice critical thought whilst discussing either religion and/or history. Yet to this day, in spite of all the conversations he'd had with the class, no one ever found out if he was a man of God, a man of god, or an atheist. He expressed himself-- but he was also a good teacher who didn't let his faith (or lack of faith) get in the way of that.

[mondo joe]

49. No one would? This guy did. And then LIED about it.

[Tempest]

73. You're editorializing

There is NOTHING in the story to indicate your "belief".

[mondo joe]

47. No. The teacher's job is to keep the class on task.

Don't YOU think?

[Stand and Fight]

62. Just trying to help out here... There vs. Their

there  /ðɛər; unstressed ðər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation

–adverb 1. in or at that place (opposed to here): She is there now.
2. at that point in an action, speech, etc.: He stopped there for applause.
3. in that matter, particular, or respect: His anger was justified there.
4. into or to that place; thither: We went there last year.
5. (used by way of calling attention to something or someone): There they go.
6. in or at that place where you are: Well, hi there.
–pronoun 7. (used to introduce a sentence or clause in which the verb comes before its subject or has no complement): There is no hope.
8. that place: He comes from there, too.
9. that point.
–noun 10. that state or condition: I'll introduce you to her, but you're on your own from there on.
–adjective 11. (used for emphasis, esp. after a noun modified by a demonstrative adjective): Ask that man there.
–interjection 12. (used to express satisfaction, relief, encouragement, approval, consolation, etc.): There! It's done.


their  /ðɛər; unstressed ðər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation

–pronoun 1. a form of the possessive case of they used as an attributive adjective, before a noun: their home; their rights as citizens; their departure for Rome.
2. (used after an indefinite singular antecedent in place of the definite masculine form his or the definite feminine form her): Someone left their book on the table. Did everyone bring their lunch?

[mondo joe]

63. SELF DELETE

[MountainLaurel]

175. Thank you!

::yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

[Scout1071]

92. He wasn't asked his opinion.

He was forcing his opinion on his students. That's the point.

[Bucky]

122. I teach history. When my students ask me my opinions, I tell them I won't tell them.

I reiterate all the time... This is their class. I present facts, analysis, and competing arguments. When they try and get my angle on it, I tell them no teacher has the right to impose their opinions on students. Their opinions are welcome in the classroom, sharing mine would be an abuse of my postition and influence.

[JerseygirlCT]

166. They really shouldn't. A good teacher would

deflect that sort of question -- or outright not answer and explain why.

His personal opinion on issues of faith has no place in a public school classroom.

[Richard Steele]

193. Tyr to stick to the topic at hand, Don. That's not what happened here.

[Strawman]

36. I'm curious to see what his union says

I'd like to see them throw shitty teachers like this guy overboard more often. He's probably opposed to his own union too and thinks he shouldn't have to pay dues like a typical RW fundie. He doesn't deserve their protection.

This is assuming he is in a union. Not sure how NJ works as far as that goes.

[LibertyLover]

111. Teachers' unions in NJ

My mom taught in NJ and belonged to a union. It was pretty strong then, circa 1989, although I don't know about now.

[Pavulon]

132. Federal Statue says kiddo committed a felony

it is illegal to record someone without their consent..As with any crime you commit you are liable for the damage done to the victim.

So if the teacher is fired, he can sue for the salary and pension he would have earned until retirement.

[Zhade]

148. Completely, utterly false.

1) It's a public institution.

2) Students record lectures all the time. They are not felons.

3) You are wrong.

4) The teacher was WAY wrong, and should be fired.

[Solon]

162. Incorrect, there is no expectation of privacy...

It was on public property, not private, if this was a boardroom meeting at Wal*Mart HQ, you may be right. Same thing for phone conversations, but for a teacher who is proselytizing in front of 30 or so students? I don't think so. Besides, lectures from professors are recorded by students in Colleges around the world, all the time. Everybody knows about it, but they aren't required to ask permission, at least in this country, because it is considered a "public venue".

[pitohui]

214. that is absolutely untrue, who makes up this stuff?

abscam settled the matter on a federal level for once and for all

it is never illegal to record what someone says directly to you, the ability to "wire" someone and record what he's told by criminals is the basis of all undercover work, including undercover work by the FBI on a federal level

catch up to the times, it is not 1922 anymore if it ever was

[Kali]

45. I am totally proud of that kid.

Somebody hire him now! Send him over to the Firehouse to get an internship with Amy.

[ThomCat]

55. Agreed.

I hope that kid has a strong future.

[Pavulon]

133. He cant do any of that

now that he committed a felony. NJ statute provides for criminal and civil recourse.

[donsu]

54. awarding large gold star to the student and a thank you

nt

[Miss Chybil]

56. Preacher! Heal thyself!

This is how you train children - by breaking the law and then lying about it? Walk away in shame, Hypocrite.

[NoodleyAppendage]

66. FIRE HIS ASS. Xtian mythology has no place in that class.

LaClair is a fine and brave individual who struck a minor victory for reason over Dark Ages thinking. Kudos!

J

[Xeric]

70. If you have to lie to push your belief system

how good can it be?

[usregimechange]

75. Good for him! Let me know im if we get the audio

[leftofthedial]

85. they believe utterly in the concept that

the ends justify the means

they are "forgiven" and converting unbelievers is their highest calling.

there is no surer recipe for hypocricy

[progressoid]

86. Thou shalt not bear false witness...

except when your job is on the line...

or if you've been accused of taking meth

or screwing prostitutes...

etc ad nauseam

[MethuenProgressive]

96. The story is the brave & smart kid!

There are good teens out there!

[NVMojo]

97. wow, we had a whack job teacher just like this at Elko High School, NV ...

go kid!!

[dysfunctional press]

98. we should be calling the school district to find out WHY...

that moran is still being allowed to teach children.

[PittPoliSci]

113. i'm surprised laclair wasn't punished...

when students at my high school tried to catch a teacher doing dishonest things by recording him, the principle ended up suspending him for using a recording device, because electronic devices of any kind were prohibited in school. i remember they just dismissed whatever the students were trying to argue (i can't remember what it was now) just because of the recording device.

[Prophet 451]

138. Just because of the recording device?

In my experiance, school administrators would believe a teacher over a kid if the teacher said the sky was green with yellow spots.

[PittPoliSci]

209. yup, just because of the recording device.

[geniph]

116. To put this in the simplest possible terms,

That teacher is a "hugh moran" and he is now "seriesly screwn." !!!111!!!!!

[Pavulon]

134. No teacher is stupid, kid admitted to a felony

it is a felony to record someone without their consent in NJ, and the teacher can take mom and dads house in civil court to cover his losses if he loses his job.

Road to hell is paved with good intentions..

[Canuckistanian]

136. I don't think that should apply to teachers

Whatever teachers say in the class should not be considered a private conversation, considering that they are public employees.

They cannot have a reasonable expectation of privacy in that setting.

[Pavulon]

139. NJ law say otherwise and NJ

is one of the worst places you can commit that crime. There is extra penalty for publishing illegally obtained recordings.

It is not a privacy issue, the law is specific to audio recordings.

[Canuckistanian]

141. Wow, bizarre.

Sort of puts any whistleblower in NJ in a difficult position.

[Pavulon]

145. Modify my post...

It appears that you can tape if you do not have tortious intent. however I would consult an attorney before i used a bug on someone in NJ. The penalties are significant.

I am not a lawyer..

[Zhade]

150. Of course, a recording device in a public schoolroom is NOT a bug.

NT!

[Pavulon]

152. Recording without consent

is shaky ground. Public is not the issue, consent to record is. It is a privacy issue.

[Zhade]

154. Fine. Link us to the law that specifically prohibits students from taping lectures.

Until then, you're just making an unsupported assertion.

[Pavulon]

159. Statute

N.J. Stat. § 2A:156A-3: Interception of any wire, electronic or oral communication, or disclosure of the contents of such communication by someone having reason to know of the interception, is a crime. The disclosure of intercepted information is not a crime, however, if the contents of the communication have "become public knowledge or public information."

In addition, an interception is legal if the interceptor is a party to the communication, or one of the parties has given prior consent, so long as no criminal or tortious intent is present. Nonetheless, even if a person is a subscriber to a particular telephone, that person cannot consent to the recording of conversations on that telephone to which he is not a party. N.J. Stat. § 2A:156A-4.

Civil liability for unlawful interception or disclosure can be imposed for the greater of actual damages, $100 per day of violation or $1,000, and can include punitive damages, attorney fees and litigation costs. N.J. Stat. § 2A:156A-24.

Depends on intent of recording, tortious..

[Solon]

163. The intent isn't the important part, the "Become public knowledge or public information."

Section is the most important. This teacher was making a speech, basically, in front of about 20 to 30 students, in this case, this would be considered public information. There are two reasons for this, the first is obvious, this is a public school, on tax payer funded property, Nothing that happens in the classroom can be considered anything but public information. The second reason is that the teacher was in a public setting in the fact that there were several 3rd parties present.

[TankLV]

181. The intent of the law you cite is EAVESDRPPING on PRIVATE TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS

that grew out of somebody using a CELLPHONE conversation they recorded.

Nice try.

NOT THE SAME AT ALL!

Give it up already!

This wasn't an "interception" - it was a DIRECT RECORDING of PUBLIC SPEECH that PROVES A CRIME that the TEACHER committed!

[Pavulon]

221. What crime did the teacher commit? feel free to site a statute

administrative infraction. Like me saying a coworker is an asshole who cant do his job to another co worker. not illegal but will get me fired.

I misinterpreted the law on recording. I was wrong. Going back and amending the post makes no sense.

However the teacher did not commit a crime either.

[Richard Steele]

192. Then the kid clearly did not break that law.

First sentence in your second paragraph there:
"In addition, an interception is legal if
the interceptor is a party to the communication..."

Bingo. Teacher is speaking to the class: the class can record him.
End of story.

[conscious evolution]

210. When I read this:

N.J. Stat. § 2A:156A-3: Interception of any wire, electronic or oral communication, or disclosure of the contents of such communication by someone having reason to know of the interception, is a crime. The disclosure of intercepted information is not a crime, however, if the contents of the communication have "become public knowledge or public information."

I also read it as allowing charges to be filed against every news reporter and camaraman.Intercepting oral communication is part of their job description,after all.

[TankLV]

180. No it's not a "felony" - STOP SPEWING LIES.

Just because you continue to post this CRAP, doesn't make it any less true...

STOP IT ALREADY!

[Sin]

187. Na the kid wasn't stupid.

He was just recording notes for class you know he wanted to make sure he got all the lies, fire, hell and brimstone down so when it shows up on the tests. ( I wonder if the standardized state tests cover magic Jesus Apparitions.) There are other reasons who knows he could start talking in Tongues at any time so just writing notes would be no good.
Recording the words of wackjob loonies is the best bet so you can go over and study them later to make sure you get there clear message for the course work. Because hell is not laughing matter unless you find it really really funny like I do.

[CAcyclist]

206. That's obviously not true. If it was, the reporter would have mentioned it.

You are not a lawyer. This is a public forum , not a private conversation - taping is not illegal.

[pitohui]

215. why do you keep repeating this obvious untruth?

it is not a felony to record someone w.out their consent in new jersey or any other state

sorry, friend, you never heard of undercover work?

it's a felony to record a conversation where you are spying on those people, and you are not one of the parties to the conversation, unless you have a court order, but that's an entirely different matter

as i was taught, if someone tells me something illegal, and i am called upon to testify to what they told me in court, then it is no more illegal for me to pull out a recording or written notes to be sure what i remember that the conversation was accurate, than it is for me to remember the conversation in the first place!

a little logic might reveal that i'm correct, barring any use of logic however try asking a real attorney

teachers are recorded all the time, many kids find that recorded notes are more accurate than the chicken scratch of our day

[Pavulon]

222. Because I made a mistake and misread a statute..

I am not a lawyer thankfully. I have no secret agenda..

[harpboy_ak]

216. Pavulon is WRONG

The NJ law regarding recordings was overturned years ago in a lawsuit against the NJ State Troopers. ANY RECORDING IN A PUBLIC PLACE (INCLUDING SCHOOLS) IS LEGAL ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

PLEASE stop repeating your misinterpretation of the law as fact. It is NOT against the law to record in public, consent or not.

[Porcupine]

119. My kids science teacher does this shit.

She's in a spanish immersion junior high science class. I've asked her to record when he starts to go off on religious or political topics but she refuses. Kid just wants to get through the class and on with her life.

She had another teacher that acted bizzarre for the first several weeks of school. Turned out she had a brain tumour and nobody noticed the odd behaviour enough to complain.

It's my sincere belief that a lot more of this goes on than parents ever find out about. The whole society is slowly being brainwashed to put up with BS becasue the person in front of them is an authority.

I'm buying my kid some nail clippers and an MP3 player with a microphone. Yep I am; and a nail file too. Maybe some polish remover. Preparing for the revolution.

[Lars39]

127. Just curious,

and 'cause I like to be prepared, too...Is the stuff on your shopping list a reference to a movie I could watch? Trying to stay oblique here. :hi:

[Porcupine]

185. Futile angry gesture mocking DHS n/t

.

[Bucky]

120. Best line from the article: "He also told his class that dinosaurs were on Noah's ark"

Gorgeous!! :rofl:

[brg5001]

199. Yes, and of course the fossil record was placed underground by SATAN!

Or was it...SANTANA? These fundies are indeed a hoot! As Chris Rock once put it,

"PEOPLE WROTE THE BIBLE!"

[bamacrat]

123. Ha Ha I bet he shit himself when the boy pulled out the CD.

[colorado_ufo]

124. Gee, I just feel the love.

So glad this guy went into teaching, and I'm extra happy that he represents the Christian faith. <sarcasm off>

[Pavulon]

131. 2 wrongs, 1 administrative

1 a felony. It is illegal to record someone without their prior consent. If the teacher loses hi job the child's parents are liable for the civil impact of his crime.

[kath]

140. Wrong. In many states, taping a conversation is legal, as long as one of

the parties is aware that it is being recorded. Including New Jersey:

Question:
May a person tape record a conversation without the permission of the other person?
Answer:
If the conversation takes place entirely in New Jersey, then the consent of only one person is necessary. If the conversation is inter-state, then both persons must consent.
http://www.njpa.org/njpa/legal_hotline/invasion_of_privacy.html

[Pavulon]

144. nope

"In addition, an interception is legal if the interceptor is a party to the communication, or one of the parties has given prior consent, so long as no criminal or tortious intent is present."

This will have legal implications and will fall under a tort catch.

His reasons will come in to play

[Zhade]

149. Taping a lecture does not fit the defintion of wiretapping or interception.

Why do you keep saying this?

It's almost like you're more pissed at the kid than the teacher who violated the law.

[Pavulon]

153. Law?

The teacher violated an administrative policy. Similar to pushing a political agenda.

I am not pissed but there is a privacy issue.

[Zhade]

155. He violated the first amendment.

You honestly can't recognize this blatant violation of the separation of church and state?

[Pavulon]

161. Show me a statute

that makes that a crime. Bad judgement yes...

On the books law.

[Solon]

167. Here you go...

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


Amendment XIV

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

OK, this includes STATE institutions, like public schools, this teacher, as an employee of the STATE, violated not one but TWO amendments to the constitution, he failed as a representative of the STATE.

[Zhade]

184. BAM! And the pownage is complete.

Nice work - exactly my source, too.

[Solon]

191. Actually, according to my 1337 dictionary, which I have right next to me...

it is spelled Pwnage, other than that, thanks for the props. :)

[Zhade]

229. Look, n00b...

LOL

[Solon]

232. Did you see my response to his post?

Double pwnage there! :)

[Pavulon]

220. Ok show me a STATUTE pwner, hints they have numbers

that is not what shows up on a docket number. Example shouting fire in a public theater is not a charge of first amendment violation it is creating a public affray with a state statute number..

Thanks..
http://njlawnet.com/njstatutes.html

[Solon]

224. You asked for it...

TITLE 2C THE NEW JERSEY CODE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
2C:30-6. Crime of official deprivation of civil rights

2. a. A public servant acting or purporting to act in an official capacity commits the crime of official deprivation of civil rights if, knowing that his conduct is unlawful, and acting with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity, the public servant: (1) subjects another to unlawful arrest or detention, including, but not limited to, motor vehicle investigative stops, search, seizure, dispossession, assessment, lien or other infringement of personal or property rights; or (2) denies or impedes another in the lawful exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power or immunity.

Took me a while to find, the NJ statute database sucks ass in design, but here you go, combine with the 1st and 14th amendments. Seems pretty cut and dried. Emphasis is all mine, of course.

[Solon]

165. What fucking privacy, this was in a CLASSROOM FOR CRYING out loud!

Look, do you think its a privacy violation if I bring up a post from here a year ago through archive search? How about if you made some stupid stump speech in front of hundreds, or only a few? Was Senator Allen's privacy violated when he was recorded during the "Macaca" flap?

[Solon]

168. Were the kids required to sign a NDA relating to any classroom activities or lectures?

If not, then STFU about a non-existent complaint!

[TankLV]

182. THIS IS NOT AN "INTERCEPTION" - IT'S A DIRECT RECORDING!

The statute is meant to surrepitiously recording a PRIVATE CELLPHONE conversation!

NOT THE SAME AT ALL!

Get it thru your thick head!

[rocktivity]

143. The fact that he lied will get the teacher very little sympathy or money

from even a civil jury. The defense will simply claim that he's being petty and vindictive because he got caught.

:headbang:
rocknation

[FraDon]

137. Church & State (haiku)

Many the reasons
for the separation of
church and state. Here’s one!

[Zhade]

151. Kid's smart, and a little bit of a hero.

Good for him!

[JerseygirlCT]

164. Geez, and in NJ, too.

Nutjobs everywhere, I guess.

[Dinger]

170. Someone's Been Doing This At My School For 20 Years. They Don't Do A Damn Thing

All the teaching staff knows it, but the admin does nothing. She has several letters in her file, and memos have been sent to the staff (With reminders clearly aimed at her), but she's still here. It's weird - the principal is a Dem. She seems to be afraid of the woman. I've posted about it before. If I blow the whistle on her, I would have to take a risk I can't afford right now. The old superintendent screw up is gone, and we have an interim person now, so maybe progress can be made. Maybe I should print out this article and send it to her annonymously.

[kath]

176. Do it, Dinger.

This kind of shit really needs to stop.

[Ian David]

196. That's what YouTube is for. Cellphones with video cameras are your friend. n/t

[MountainLaurel]

174. Oh yeah, baby.

:rofl:

[NMMNG]

194. Gotta love those fundies

So honest and observant of the law. :sarcasm:

[JayMonster]

198. Additional Reasons for concern

I will be at the next School Board Meeting. The story itself is troubling enough, even before you get to the little details that when you add them all up, really make me mad (or possibly scared)

1st. The only comment you get out of Supt. Mooney is what a "wonderful teacher" this clown is. I'm sorry, but telling your students they will go to hell, lying about it, and then turning into an indignant jack-ass ("You must be an atheist, you got the big bad Christian Teacher") is NOT what I would term a "wonderful teacher"

2nd. This took place back and the beginning of the school year. The meeting between the student and the administration took place well over a month ago, and what was done? NOTHING! If this hadn't been brought out to the people, this would have been swept under the rug and forgotten about.

3rd. Justification. Oh, well he is still teaching, and the student is even doing well in his class. Like the teacher has any option to take "revenge" on the student without it being obvious. The fact that the kid is smart (proved by him having the recordings to back his story up), does not excuse the inexcusable breach of ethics exhibited by this clown of a "teacher."

4th. His lying proves that he can not be taken "at his word" and trusted to "promise" not to do this again. Once again, his indignation tells the true tale. He is not upset about anything except BEING CAUGHT!

Then add to this, (the things that only residents of Kearny would obviously already know) such as the school board shoving uniforms down students throats, the refusing to fire a custodian arrested for possession of cocaine until after his SECOND arrest and you have the demonstration of incompetence that should make any parent upset, because it then doesn't seem so odd to that this type of crazed stupidity could go on here. (But I am not upset about it ;) )

[JayMonster]

200. Audio of Lecture

Is available for your listening (dis)pleasure here.

[kay1864]

202. Here's the fundie teacher's bio and pic:

Kind of a one-sided education the guy has...

http://www.kearnycrew.net/coaches_corner.htm

[Jimbo S]

204. From his bio

He earned two bronze Stotesbury medals stroking the Junior Boys

Hmmm, maybe someone needs to look into this guy a little more. Wouldn't be out of character for someone of his type.

[warrens]

203. Matt Leclair...hero

The fact that the teacher lied about it speaks volumes. Gad, I despise these hypocritical, lying fuckwads. They can believe any stupid fucking thing they want, but they don't have a right to force it down my kid's throat.

[pitohui]

212. woo hoo to mr laclair

it gives you hope for the younger generation

[Ilsa]

219. Someone told me he got his girlfriend pregnant. He wanted her to

have the baby, but not get married. She chose abortion because she would have been fired by her school district for violating a morality clause.

This idiot should be fired as well if they have such a clause in their contracts. He was teaching outside of the curriculum, proselytizing, and then lying about it.

[HockeyMom]

223. My Biology Teacher who "taught' about her sons, daughter,

and grandkids, instead of Biology. The result was that half the class flunked Biology. Yes, she was fired -- for not doing her JOB. Doesn't matter whether she is ranting about Jesus, or little Joey, it isn't about BIOLOGY.

[Harper_is_Bush]

228. Brave kid. Good for him. n/t

[libodem]

234. The wacko ought to be teaching home school

where the kids learn more about Jesus than the constitution